We are officially six days out from the 2024 presidential election! Hear from faculty experts at the George Washington University as we enter the final countdown to the 2024 U.S. election. Our experts are offering their expectations ahead of election day and the key issues and themes they foresee playing a big role in results next week.
The video of their remarks can be viewed here. See below for a breakdown of the topics covered:
Hear Peter Loge discuss his worries about this uncertain time and how Trump might declare victory no matter what the numbers say (0:05).
Peter Loge is the director of GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs. He has nearly 30 years of experience in politics and communications, having served as a deputy to the chief of staff for Sen. Edward Kennedy during the 1995 shutdown, a VP at the US Institute of Peace in 2013, and held senior positions for three members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Loge currently leads the Project on Ethics in Political Communication at the School of Media and Public Affairs and continues to advise advocates and organizations.
Hear from Lesley Lopez on what groups she believes will control the results in battleground states (0:18).
Lesley Lopez is the director of Public Relations and Communications program as well as an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Political Management. Lopez is an expert in media relations, digital storytelling, content creation, inclusive strategic communications and coalition building, and writing. She has served as a journalist, founder of a boutique PR firm, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the political start-up Run for Something. She also is currently a state delegate in the Maryland General Assembly, representing District 39, and serves as Deputy Majority Whip.
Imani Cheers dives into her hopes for the final stretch and how this election has shown how divisive language can be (0:59).
Imani M. Cheers, an associate professor of digital storytelling, is an award-winning digital storyteller, director, producer, and filmmaker. As a professor of practice, she uses a variety of mediums including video, photography, television, and film to document and discuss issues impacting and involving people of the African Diaspora. Her scholarly focus is on the intersection of women/girls, technology, health, conflict, agriculture, and the effects of climate change in sub-Saharan Africa. Cheers is also an expert on diversity in Hollywood, specifically the representation of Black women in television and film.
Hear Todd Belt breakdown what issues each campaign honed in on to sway undecided voters within this final week (1:49).
Todd Belt is the director of the Political Management Program at the GW Graduate School of Political Management. Belt is an expert on the presidency, campaigns and elections, mass media and politics, public opinion, and political humor. In addition to his expertise, Belt is co-author of four books and helps to run GW’s political poll, which recently shared new findings.
Hear from Quardricos Bernard Driskell on the importance of turnout this election season and the impact the “silent woman” demographic may have on election results (2:24).
Reverend Professor Quardricos Bernard Driskell an adjunct professor of religion and politics at the GW Graduate School of Political Management, as well as a policy influencer and federal lobbyist. With nearly ten years of government relations experience, he has worked for two patient voluntary health associations where he advanced the patient voice into policy and research deliberations through services to Congress, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Chris Warshaw gets into challenges that may arise following the election and the importance of respecting democracy (3:06).
Christopher Warshaw is an associate professor of political science at the George Washington University, and is an expert on redistricting, American politics, representation, public opinion, as well as state and local politics. Warshaw evaluates the links between public opinion, elections, and political outcomes in city and state governments, as well as the U.S. Congress. He also examines how political institutions, such as term limits or direct democracy, influence political representation.
Lastly, Steven Livingston concludes by posing a question to viewers: why is the democratic brand struggling with a contest that should have been a catwalk? Hear his full remarks at 3:26.
Steven Livingston is the Founding Director of the GW Institute for Data, Democracy, and Politics and a professor of media and public affairs. Livingston's research and teaching focus on media/information technology and political theory. He is particularly interested in the role of information technologies and media on democracy.
If you would like to speak with an expert, please contact the GW Media Relations team at [email protected].
-GW-